Device for cleaning screens



Nov. 12, 1935. A. KINSEY DEVICE FOR CLEANING SCREENS Filed March 24, 1934 INVENTOR Erasey,

ATTORNEYS JLQ WITNESS Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to devices for cleaning screens such as those used in connection with flumes or waterways, and the like, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a device for cleaning screens which will maintain the screens in condition to permit the passage of water therethrough without danger of overflowing due to a clogged condition.

A further object is to provide a device of the kind in which the cleaning of the screen is accomplished by simple apparatus which will not injure the screen.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which will not only keep the screen cleared, But which will remove rubbish such as moss, sticks, etc. from the flume or waterway, thus preventing them from entering the water pipes or waterways and clogging the pumps, or water wheels which may be used for generating power.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of a simple nature which can be operated 5 at a small cost either intermittently or continuously, as desired.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed 30 out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a flume with a 35 screen and my improved screen cleaning device.

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 looking in the direction of the arrows, and,

Figure 3 is a detail view showing the scraper mechanism.

40 In carrying out my invention I make use of any suitable waterway. In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown a flume consisting of a bottom member I and side members 2 and 3 respectively. Secured to the side members are uprights 4 and 5 respec- 5 tively. These uprights are provided with bearings 6 arranged to receive the bent ends of a crank shaft 1. One of these bent ends is extended and is provided with a pulley 8 which is driven by a cable or belt 9 from any suitable 5 source of power, not shown..

Suspended from the crank shaft 1 by means of a U-shaped frame I0 is a scraper II. This consists preferably of a bar which is provided with a flange I la at its rear. The bar is secured 55 to the central portion of the U-shaped frame in any suitable manner. The arms of the U-shaped frame are provided with elongated loops |0a at their upper ends, and these loops, as shown in the drawing, receive the central portion of the crank shaft 1, thus suspending the scraper from 5 the crank shaft.

At I2 I have shown a screen frame provided with a screen l3. This screen frame is substantially the dimensions of the interior of the flume, that is to say, it is substantially as wide as the 10 bottom and as high as the sides, and as shown in Fig. 2, is inclined.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device the operation thereof may be readily understood. The direction of the flow 5 of water in the flume is indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. Any floating matter or other matter carried along by the force of the water and held against the front surface of the screen might tend to clog the screen without the use of the 20 scraper. The pulley 8 is designed to be revolved in the direction shown by the arrow to cause rotation of the crank shaft. As the shaft moves from the full line position shown in Fig. 2 to the first dotted line position, the scraper is drawn up the screen. It will be noted that the ends of the scraper bear against the screen frame, and also on the screen itself. As the scraper is drawn upwardly it collects any material that may be lodged against the screen and tends to draw it upwardly. When the scraper clears the top of the screen the weight will cause it to swing forwardly since the crank shaft has not yet reached its uppermost position. The arms ID will hit stop members l4 secured to the memhere 4 and 5 and the sudden stoppage will tend to dislodge the debris carried by the scraper into the auxiliary flume 15. The latter may be provided with water to wash away the debris.

As the pulley I8 revolves, the crank shaft is carried upwardly and rearwardly and on reaching the opposite side of its throw the scraper will begin to descend. If it should strike a stick, rock or other obstruction in its downward movement, the elongated loop will permit the crank shaft to revolve without any interference, and when it draws the scraper away from the stick or rock, it will drop to the bottom of the screen in position to clean the latter.

In the movement of the scraper along the sur- 550 face of the screen, matter such as mud or other material, which will disintegrate in water, may pass through the screen, the main purpose being to prevent the obstruction of the screen and to permit the flow of water.

The device is simple in construction, and as stated, may be run intermittently when an accumulation has formed, or it may run continuously to keep the screenrclean at all times.

I claim:

1. The combination of a fiume, of a waterway having sides and a bottom, of an inclined screen disposed in the flume, a pair of supports, a crank shaft journaled in said supports, means for rotating the crank shaft, a U-shaped frame having elongated loops encircling the crank shaft, a scraper carried by said U-shaped frame, and arranged to enter the flume and to engage the inclined screen at the bottom thereof when the' crank shaft is in its lower position, the movea ment of the crank shaft serving to draw the scraper from the bottom to the top of the fiume, and the further movement of the crank shaft permitting the scraper to swing forwardly over the top of the screen, stop members for suddenly arresting the swinging movement and an auxilia'ry flume for receiving debris ejected from the arrested movement of the scraper.

2. The combination with a flume, of a waterway having sides and bottom, an inclined screen disposed in the fiume, a pair of supports, a crank shaft journalled in said supports, and having a U-shaped portion, means for rotating the crank shaft, said U-shaped portion being of sufiicient dimensions as to extend beyond the top of the inclined screen, when in one position of its revolution and beyond the bottom of the screen in the opposite direction when rotated 180, a U-shaped frame having elongated loops encircling the crank shaft, a scraper carried by said U-shaped frame and arranged to enter the flume and to engage the inclined screen at the bottom thereofwhen the crank shaft is in its lower position, the movement of the crank shaft serving to draw the scraper from the bottom to the top of the flume and the further movement of 'the ,crank shaft permitting the scraper to swing forwardly over the top of the screen.

ALPHA KINSEY, 

